Four column ejector



April 2l, 19512.

n G. E. cooK 2,280,218

FOUR COLUMN EJECTOR Filed Dec. `28, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l D A l 4 -r 0 -e-I I @6250.T. l @(ew? 2 ff/v Y 1o j f INVENTOR Gli-ORGE E.' COOK ,April 21, 1942. G, bow 2,280,218

` y FOUR- COLUMN EJECTOR Filed Dec. 28, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 15 -i 2o L3M 19 '21 I 18 @if 2.97)@ '21 5171 50 52 l HIT 0 lum, Tab b2 @4 23 1a@ 68E 24 '219, 18a

43 INVENTOR 650,961.5' COOK April 21, 1942. ai, COQK 2,280,218

FOUR CQLUMN EJECTOR Filed Dec.l2a, 193s s sheets-sheet 34 MII l. m mi* m,

l ATTORNEY Patented Apr. `21,1942

\ UNITED. STATES e PATENT 3OFFICE l j` 2,286,218," rotin COLUMN minoren f George EL Cook, Longlsland City, N. Y., assigner to U-Need-aPaklProducts Corporation, Brooklyn,` N. Y., a corporation Y l l p Application December 2s, icsajsrlal No. 311.299 v Y .13c1aims. (01.312457) rIhis inventionrelates to fourcolumn ejectors".` e e i It is partioularlydirected to a dispensing device,

including four chutesand means for ejecting f articles stacked in said four chutes in rotation,

upon successivei actuation of `a `Single control member. h l In cigarettevending machines now on',I the market it is customary to dispense a` book of matcheseac'h time a packagev of cigarettes is vended) Heretofore, such machines havebeen provided With Vmeans to eject thebooks `of matches .as shown `in. my Patent No. 2,076,750. It has been found that in cigarette Vending machines, `the provision of only two chutes for booksV lof matches requires too frequent servicing or re-l iilling. l

. Itis therefore `an object of thispresentinvene tion to provide yfour chutes Iin each of'whch a; column, or stack of `match books, highly improved `meansfbeing provided to eject or dispense'afbook ofmatches from said chutesin A`ap'redetermined order, `upon `successively'dispensing.packages of cigarettes, the lmatchfbook dispensing mecha` nism being -so arranged that after Aa hoolfrofvv matches has been 1dispensed from 4each of; the four chutes in said predetermined order, Hthe operation isrepeated toA again dispense books of l matches from the `four chutes in the same order. A further object of this invention is to, .pro

`vide a dispensing device of the `character.jdejf- 1,. scribed, vso"`constructed that the 'chutes together with `the `ejecting mechanismflmay be .tilted fors wardly 'and held in a forwardly tilted.' position to facilitate refilling of the chutes.. Y v A s`till `further object of this` invention Lis to provide a strong, rugged and compact device ofthe character described, Whichvshall berelal tivelyinexpensive toq manufacture, easy to assemble, positive in operation, and yet practical and efficient to a high degree.`

Otherobjeots of thisinvention` Willinpart be l obvious and in part hereinafter pointedout The invention accordingly `.consists inthe fea-` tures of construction, combinations gofelements, and arrangement ofpartswhich willgbehexemrplied inthe `construction hereinafter described,

and of Which the scope" of application Will` be infk dicated in the following claims;` ,Y 1 In the accompanying dravvinga; in

bodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a` frontj elevational View. of,` a four column ejector embodying the invention;-

. Whih is shown oneof `the various possible illustrative emi.

position of Fig. `9.

mechanismin a forwardlytiltedposition in `do4 and dash lines;

Fig.'3 is a cross-sectional'view taken on line S45-sof Fig. 1; n

Figi is a rear elevationalvievv of the lower 'end of the chutes and the ejecting mechanism;

n Fig. 5 is` an enlarged detailed View of the ejecting mechanism with portions broken away and in cross-section; u p

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional viewvvtaken on line Fig." 7 is a cross-sectional view takenon line l-lofliigy Fig. Sis a vievv` similar to Fig. 5, but showing the,positio`n of the mechanism when the crossharA Ais moved partially to `the `right from the other suitable' articles and which may be used ina vending machine or the like. The same i comprises. a fixed Wall, which may be a rear Wall of a vending machine. Attached to said rearfvvall is a bracket I2 supporting a hinge pin i3; Hinged to said pin i3 isa plate Ij4 having a pair of` parallel aligned portions` l5 disposed on opposite sides of the bracket l2 and formed with ,alignedsleeves i6 at the lower ends thereof, to

Areceive the pivot pin i3.

` Plate I4 has a top edge Il, and is formed with a pair of aligned, horizontal, symmetrically disposed slots |8 I8a, forthepurpose hereinafter appearing. l Said plate is formed Withflanges I8b,` I8c on the front face thereof, surrounding `said slots I8, Ilia, respectively. On the rear face of plate i4 is a central recess I9, adapted to `rowhereof is located on the verticalY axis of the plate.` Said plate i4 is furthermore formedwith "a through opening 2| concentric With theaxis of disc 20. shaft `23, riveted to disc20. Riveted tosaid shaft Journalled in the opening 2| is a 23 is a seoondcircularl `disc 24, similar to the `"disc 2i),v and parallel thereto, and located on the opposite side of plate Ill.` Ther discs 20 and 24 thus rotate together about the axis of the shaft 23, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Attached to the upper edge I1 of plate I4, as by screws 21, is a forwardly extending bracket 28 having parallel walls 29 and 38 interconnected by a pair of spaced bottom walls 32 and 33 symmetrically disposed about the vertical axis of plate I4 and extending forwardly therefrom. The bottom walls 32 and 33 are formed with similar, longitudinal slots 32a and 33a, respectively. Said bottom walls are formed with upstanding longitudinal ridges 32h and 33h, located on opposite sides of the slots 32a and 33a., re'

spectively.

Mounted on the bracket 28 are four upstanding chutes 36, 31, 38 and 39 adapted to contain stacks of columns of books of matches or other special articles. The lower ends of the chutes are received between the walls 29 and 39 and are riveted thereto. One pair of chutes 36 and 31 may be contiguous to each other and spaced from the other pair of chutes 38 and 39 which are also contiguous to each other. The chutes 36 and 31 are symmetrically disposed with respect to the chutes 38 and 39 on opposite sides of the Vertical mid-section of plate I4. Said chutes have rear and side vertical walls and inwardly extending flanges at the front.

The contiguous walls 36a and 31a of chutes 36 and 31 have cut-outs 36h, 31b at their lower ends,

for the purpose `hereinafter appearing. The outer walls 36o and 31o of the chutes 36 and 31 terminate above the bottom wall 32 of bracket 28. The contiguous walls 38a and 33a of chutes 38 and 39 have cut-outs 38h and 39h at their lower ends, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The lower ends of the outer walls 38C and 39e of ,chutes 38 and 39 terminate above the bottom wall 33 of bracket 28.

Slidably mounted on bottom wall 32 is a slider 40 having ridges 4I receiving the ridges 32h of bottom wall 32.r Fixed to the slider 48 is a U- shaped strap 43 extending down through slot 32a, for vthe purpose hereinafter appearing.

Slidably mounted on the bottom wall 33 is a f slider 45 formed with parallel ridges 46 receiv ing the ridges 33h of the bottom wall 33. Fixed to the slider 45 is a U-shaped strap 48 extending downwardly through the slot 33a. of said bottom wall 33, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

As will appear hereinafter, means is provided for reciprocating the slider 40 on the bottom wall 32 to eject the booksof matches or articles from the chutes 36 and 31; and to reciprocate the slider 45 to eject books of matches or articles from the chutes 38 and 39.

To this end, there is fixed to the disc 2D, a headed rivet located adjacent the periphery of the disc. The rivet 58 extends through a longitudinal slot 5I in a link 52.

The slot 5I is located in one half of the link 52. Fixed to an opposite end of the link 52 is a pin 54 disposed at right angles to the plate I4, and extending through the slot I8a and strap 48. On pin 54 is a collar 55 lxed thereto and contacting the flange I8c. Received on said pin 54 furthermore are sleeves 56 disposed within the slot I8a.. Fixed to the disc 24 and extending forwardly therefrom is a headed pin 60, located ninety degrees back of the pin 50. The rivet or pin 66 passes through a slot 6I in a link 62 similar to the link 52. Extending through one end of the link 62 is a pin 64 passing through the strap 43. The pin 64 passes through slot I8 and is provided at one end with a xed collar 66 contacting the rear of the plate I4. On the pin 64 are sleeves 61 disposed Within slot I8. Fixed to pin 64 is a collar 68 contacting the front side of the link 62.

Surrounding the opening 2l of plate I4 is a forward extending annular flange 2in. which spaces the disc 24 from"the front face 0f plate I4, said disc being disposed however between the flanges ISD .and which surround the slots I8 and Ia. Fixed to the inner side of the disc 24 and extending rearwardly toward the front face pin of plate I4 are four pins 18, 1I, 12 and 13 spaced 90 degrees apart, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Fixed to the side portions I5 of the plate I4 andextending forwardly therefrom are a pair of horizontally aligned headed pins 16 and 11. Slidably mounted on the pins 16 and 11 is a crossbar 19 having a pair of horizontally aligned spaced slots 80 and 8| receiving said pins. The cross-bar 19 extends beyond one end of the slot 88 and is formed with a vertical slot 82 at said end. Between the slots 89 and 8l is a horizontal slot 83 at one end of which is fixed a vertical transverse pin 84. The front face'of the cross-bar 19 above slot 83 is recessed, as at 85, forming a vertical shoulder 85, and a quadrangular recessed portion 88 at one side of the shoulder 86. Fixed to the bottom of the recess is a pin 98 on which is pivoted a pawl 92. The pawl 92 has an arm 93 projecting'downwardly into the slot 83 and interconnected by a coil tension spring 94 to the xed pin 84. Shoulder 86 limits rotation of pawl 92. The upper end 91 of the pawl 92, projects above the cross-bar 19.

It will be noted that the cross-bar 19 is disposed between the discs 20 and 24, and that the pawl 92 is in the plane of the pins 16, 1I, 12 and 13.

Fixed to the upper edge I1 of plate I4, as by screws 21, is a spring 99, the free end of which is in the plane of the pins 18, 1I, 12 and 13. 'This spring has an upstanding finger 99a positioned to engage one of said pins, when another of said pins has contacted cross-bar 19, to prevent backward rotation of the discs 28, 24.

Fixed to the walls 36C, 31e, 33C and 39C of the chutes 36, 31, 38 and 39 are downwardly extending springs 36d, 31d, 33d and 39d, projecting below the lower ends of said side walls, to guide the books of matches or other articles within said chutes downwardly as said articles are ejected.

Pivoted to the back wall II, as at 99a, is segmental plate or bell crank |08 provided with a IIJI extending forwardly and projecting through the slot 82 in crossbar 19. At the upper end of the bell crank is another pin |92 engaged by the yoke of a member I63 adapted to be reciprocated in any suitable manner (not shown), as for example, each time a package of cigarettes is dispensed.

It will now be understood that the rotary interconnected discs 20 and 24 constitute a ratchet plate, vbearing ratchet elements or pins 19, 1|, 12 and 13, and that the spring pressed pawl 92 cooperates with the ratchet elements to rotate the ratchet plate.

The operation of the ejecting mechanism will now be described:

Upon reciprocating member |83, bell crank |00 will be oscillated to reciprocate the crossbar 19. Each time the cross-bar 19 is recipro- Cated, the discs 20 and 24 are rotated through an mit rotation of the discs.

angle of ninety degrees inthe following manner: l

Beginning with the cross-bar 'I9-at the'leit, as shown in Fig; `and moving said cross-bar to the right, to the position shown in Fig. 9, the pawl 92 engages pin 10 androtates the discs in a counter-clockwise direction. ""Complete movement ofthe cross-bar tothe right Awill move the discs 20, `24 through an angle of ninety degrees. It will be noted that when the cross-bar 19 has been moved to the right, thepin moves downwardly into therlotch or recess 88 to per- I-Iowever, the followingpin 13 strikes the upper edge ofthe crossbar 19, to positivelystoprotation of thel discs after said discs have rotated ninety degrees, and the discs cannot be further rotated until the cross-bar 19 has been retracted to the left.

As the cross-bar 19 is retracted `or moved from l the right to thelleft, the pawl 92l engages the pin 13 which ismoved to the position `formerly occupied by `pin 10, andthe pawl isrotated in a clockwise direction against the tension spring 94, as shown in Fig. 10, permitting the latch to pass saidpin and again `snap into upright position after it passes said pin. When the crossbar is again reciprocated, the discs are again advanced through an angle of ninety degrees.

The operation of the mechanism to eject the booksofmatches from the chutes 36, 31, 38 and 39, `astlle discs are rotated will now be described: Beginning with the parts as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the slider 4U is in chute 31 and the slider `45 Ais in chute 39. As the slider 40 ismoved to the left into chute `36, it will move the lowermcst article therein, `out of the chute to the left beneath the lower end of wall 36C. As the slider 4U is thereafter moved to the right, itwill move the lowermost `article in the chute 31 to the right; out of said chute, below thelower end of wall 31C. As the `slider 45 in chute 39 is moved to the left, it will move the lowermost article in chute 38 out of said chute, below the lower end of wall 380. As the slider 45 is thereafter moved to the right, it will move the lower- L most article in chute 39 out of said '-chute, below` the lower end of wall 39o. The springs36d, 31d, 38d and 39d cause the articles to drop down- .wardly upon being ejected.v l

Whenthe parts are in the position shown in lFig. 5, pin 64 is at the right end of slot I8, and the link 62 is inclinedupwardly and to' the right, the pin or rivet 60 being at the top of the disc 24 and hence near the left end of the slot BI. The pin 54 is at the right end of 'slot i911, and `theheaded pin 50 on the disc 20.is at the right end of `slot 5I` of `link 52, said link being in a horizontal position.

As the cross-bar 19 is moved to the rightfrom the position shown in Fig.A 5 through the position lower end of the slot 6I and then moving the link l to f cause flpin 64to move tothe left inthe slot I8, causing the `slider 4] to move to the left from `the chute 31 tothe chute 36v to eject an article therefrom, and swinging the link 62 in a clockwise direction to a horizontal position. Atthe same` time, `the pin 50 merely causes the link 52 to swing ina clockwise direction about the pin` 54` to the position shown in Fig. 9`without mov- `ing the slider 45. l

1 As the cross-bar 19 is retracted-tothe left, the l* discs and the remainder of the mechanism is stationary. `Upon moving the cross-bar 19 to the rightagain, the link"`62 is rotated downwardly about the pin164 in a clockwise direction without affecting the slider 4I), while the pinv 50 pulls the link 52"to the leftcausing the slider 45 to move from` the chute 39 to the chute 38, to eject lil wao

l an article from the chute 38. During this action,

link 52` is swung about pin 54 in a clockwise direction to horizontal position. j Upon reciprocating the cross-bar the link 62 is moved to the right and swung up in a counter-clockwise direction to horizontal position, to merely swing down aboutv its pivot 54 in a counter-.clockwise direction without moving the slider 45. f f

Upon reciprocating the cross-bar a fourth time,

theflink `52 is moved to the right to eject an article from the chute 39, and is swung up in a ciprocated.

l 1 `Means is provided to support the chutes in up,- `right andin forwardly tilted position, whereby to permit the chutes to be refilled and resupplied with articles. To this end, there is attached to "the rear walls of the chutes, a cross strip IIO disposed above the lower ends of the chutes. Fixed tothe innerside ofthe rear wall II, `is a bracket I I I, to which there is pivoted a forwardly extending bar I I2 formed with a pair of notches II3 and H4 on the under-edge thereof. The bar ,II2' is connected to the bracket by a `coil tension 4spring II5. When the chutesare in upright position, the strip IIO is engaged in the notch H3. `By lifting the bar II2 somewhat to release the strip I lo, the chutes may be tilted forwardly until the` strip III) engages in the notch `I I4. In such position, the articles may be conveniently put into the chute through the upper ends of the latter.

It will be noted that the chutes together` with the plate I4 may be swung forwardly about the `pivot ein la. The pin ml which projects through the` slot 82, is preferably sufciently long to remainin said slot whenthe chutes are swung for- It will thus be seen that there is provided a devicein `which the several objects of thislinvention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

l rAs `various possible embodiments might be made oi the above invention, and as various 1 changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter V"herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense. i Y

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A dispensing device of the character dei scribed, comprising two pairs of chutes, a slider `at the lower end of each pair of chutes, adapted to slide backend forth from one chute to the other of said pair of chutes, a member formed with a pair of slots, a member rotatably mounted va third time,

on the iirst member, a pair of links, a pin on each link slidably engaged within one of said slots, and connected to one of said sliders, said links being formed with slots, pins on said rotary member engaged within the slots of said links, and' means for rotating said rotary member.

l2. A dispensing device of the character described, comprising two pairs of chutes, a slider slidably mounted at the lower end of each pair of chutes and adapted to slide from one chute of said pair to the other chute of said pair, back and forth, to eject articles from said chutes, a member formed with a pair of slots, a pair of links each provided with a pin passing through one of said slots, and connected to one of said sliders, each of said links being formed with a longitudinal slot, a rotary member mounted on said first member and having a pair of pins spaced ninety degrees apart and extending within the slots in said links, respectively, a cross-bar slidably mounted on said member, and cooperating means on said cross-bar and rotary member to rotate said rotary member ninety degrees each time said cross-bar is reciprocated.

3. A dispensing device comprising two pairs of chutes, a slider at the lower end of each pair of chutes, a plate fixed with respect to said chutes, and formed with a bearing opening and with a slot disposed below each pair of chutes, a pair of aligned annular discs disposed on opposite sides of said plate, and connected by a central shaft journalled in the bearing opening in said plate, c-ne of said discs having a headed pin, the other of said discs being provided with a headed pin spaced ninety degrees from the first headed pin,

a link provided with a pin passing through one of the slots and connected to one of the sliders, and formed with a slot receiving one of said headed pins, and a second link having a pin passing through the other slot, and connected to the other slider, and formed with a slot receiving the other headed pin.

4. A dispensing device comprising two pairs of chutes, a slider at the lower end of each pair of chutes, a plate fixed with respect to said chutes, and formed with a bearing opening and with a slot disposed below each pair of chutes, a pair of aligned annular discs disposed on opposite sides of said plate, and connected by a central shaft -journalled in the bearing opening in said plate, one of said discs having a headed pin, the other of said discs being provided with a headed pin spaced ninety degrees from the first headed pin, a link provided with a pin passing through one of the slots, and connected to one of the sliders, and formed with a slot receiving one of said headed pins, and a second link having a pin passing through the other slot, and connected to the other slider, and formed with a slot receiving the other headed pin, a cross-bar slidably mounted on said plate, a spring-pressed pawl pivoted to said cross-bar, one of said discs being provided with four pins spaced ninety degrees apart, adapted to be engaged by said pawl for rotating said discs ninety degrees each time the cross-bar is reciprocated once.

5, A dispensing device comprising two pairs of chutes, a slider at the lower end of each pair of chutes, a plate xed with respect to said chutes, and formed with a bearing opening and with a slot disposed below each pair of chutes, a pair of aligned annular discs disposed on opposite sides of said plate, and connected by a central shaft journalled in the bearing opening in said plate, one of said discshaving a headed pin, the other of said discs being provided with a headedpin spaced ninety degrees from the rst headed pin, a link provided with a pin passing through one of the slots, and connected to one of the sliders, and formed with a slot receiving one of said headed pins, a second link having a pin passing through the other slot, and connected to the other slider, and formed with a slot receiving the other headed pin, a cross-bar slidably mounted on said plate, a spring-pressed pawl pivoted to said cross-bar, one of said discs being proe vided with four pins spaced ninety degrees apart, adapted to be engaged by said pawl for rotating said discs ninety degrees each time the cross-bar is reciprocated once, and means for reciprocating said cross-bar.

6. A device comprising a pair of chutes, a slider at the lower ends of said chutes, adapted to move from one chute to the other, back and forth, a link pivoted to said slider, said link being formed with a longitudinal slot, a rotary disc having a pin engaged within said slot, a reciprocating member, and means to rotate said disc through a predetermined angle each time said member is reciprocated.

7. A dispensing device comprising two pairs of chutes, a bottom wall for each pair of chutes formed with a longitudinal slot, a slider mounted on each bottom wall, a member Xed to said chutes and formed with a slot disposed beneath each pair of chutes, a pair of links each having a pin passing through one of said slots, below each pair of chutes, means extending through the slots in the bottom walls, to connect said pins to said sliders, said links each being formed with a longitudinal slot, a member rotatably mounted on said first member and having pin and slot connections with said links.

8. A dispensing device comprising a plurality of pairs of chutes, a slider at the lower end of each pair of chutes, links having pivotal connections to said sliders and formed with slots, a rotary member having a pair of pins each pin being slidably received in the slot of one of said links, said pins being angularly spaced apart on said rotary member and means to rotate said rotary member through predetermined angles.

9. A dispensing device comprising a plurality of pairs of chutes, a slider at the lower end of each pair of chutes, links having pivotal connections to said sliders, =a rotary member having pin and slot connections with said links, means to rotate said rotary member through predetermined angles, said means comprising a second member mounted for back and forth movement, said rotary member being formed with ratchet elements, and -a pawl pivoted to said second member adapted to engage said ratchet elements, to rotate said rotary member each time said second member is moved back and forth.

10. A dispensing device comprising a plurality of pairs of chutes, a slider at the lower end of each pair of chutes, links having pivotal connections to said sliders, a rotary member having pin and slot connections with said links, means to, rotate said rotary member through predetermined angles, said means comprising a second member mounted for back and forth movement, said rotary member being formed with ratchet elements, and a pawl pivoted to said second member adapted to engage said ratchet elements, to rotate said rotary member each time said member is moved back and forth, a portion of said second member being disposed in the plane of said ratchet elements so that said second ing `the ratchet element engaged by the pawl to stop rotation `of said rotary member, after said rotary member has been moved through a predetermined angle, and said second member being formed with a recess through which the ratchet element engaged by said pawl passes,` as the rotary member is rotated.

11. A dispensing device of the Icharacter described, comprising two pairs of chutes, a slider at `the lower end of each pair of chutes, adapted to slide back and forth from one chute to the `other of said pair of chutes, a member formed with a pair of slots, a member rotatably mounted on the first member, a pair of links, apin on each link slidably engaged `within one of said slots, and connected to one of said sliders, said links being formed with slots, pins on said rotary member engaged within the slots of said links, means for rotating said rotary member, and means to 4prevent backward rotation of said rotary member. f

12. A dispensing device comprising a plurality of pairs of chutes, a slider at the lower end of each pair of chutes, links having pivotal conneclinks, said pins beingV angularly spaced apart on said rotary member, means to rotate said, rotary member through predetermined angles, and means to prevent backward rotation of said rotary member. i

13. In combination, a chute, a slider at the lower end of said chute, a link pivoted to Said slider, a ratchet comprising a rotatable ratchet plate having a pin and slot connection with said link, said ratchet including ratchet elements on said ratchet plate, a member adapted to be moved back and forth, and a pawl thereon. adapted to engage said ratchet plate elements to rotate said ratchet, as said member is moved back and forth.

GEORGE E. COOK. 

